NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: 5 strongest national title contenders

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Coby White #2 and Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels share a laugh as they take on the Iona Gaels during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – MARCH 23: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts as they take on the Wofford Terriers during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vystar Memorial Arena on March 23, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

4. Kentucky

The Wildcats had to play the first two rounds without their best player, but it didn’t really matter too much. Kentucky rolled over Abilene Christian without P.J. Washington, who was in a cast for a foot injury and used their athleticism and length to stifle Wofford’s shooters to get to the Sweet 16.

Even without Washington, Kentucky has a stacked roster featuring senior Reid Travis and freshmen E.J. Montgomery, Tyler Herro, and Keldon Johnson. That amount of talent alone is enough to help Kentucky get back to the Final Four, but their ceiling is limited if Washington doesn’t return.

Washington’s status entering this round isn’t clear, and it’s possible that Kentucky still has enough to get by Houston and reach the Elite Eight. Taking on North Carolina is a whole different animal, and the Wildcats probably need Washington back to get past the Tar Heels in order to eventually cut down the nets.

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